Asia Society Hong Kong has announced that Robert W. Miller, founder of Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), will donate HK$100 million to promote and celebrate Hong Kong’s emerging talent in the arts.

In recognition of this major transformative gift, the Asia Society Hong Kong Gallery — which opened as part of the new permanent home for the Asia Society Hong Kong Center in 2012 — will be re-named the Chantal Miller Gallery in honor of Robert Miller’s wife.

Robert and Chantal Miller have been long-time supporters of the arts in Hong Kong. This donation follows a generous US$3 million gift by the Millers to the Asia Society Hong Kong Center in 2004 to support the restoration of the Miller Theater and the staging of its first series of programs in this revitalized space in 2012.

Speaking at yesterday’s announcement, Robert Miller said, “There is an important place in the community for Hong Kong-based artists to play a more significant role in the global contemporary art dialogue. At the same time, there is also a need for Hong Kong artists to be exposed to international ideas and artistic best practices. With this gift, the Asia Society will be able to celebrate and nurture Hong Kong’s own talent by staging ongoing site-specific performance programs as well as commissioning major new works by local artists.”

Added Ronnie Chan, Co-Chair of the Asia Society and Chairman of the Asia Society Hong Kong Center: “The Millers’ generous donation will enable Asia Society Hong Kong to actively engage local artists of different disciplines and to encourage their creative production….Our goal is to get Hong Kong’s emerging talent to collaborate with seasoned international musicians, designers, performers and artists in creating new and unique works.”

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